New advance Ross factory contract to be signed
WORK on an advance factory in New Ross is due to commence this year.
Cllr John Fleming queried a perceived hold up on the project, pointing out that the initial tendering process had failed. ‘What is happening with the two advance factories that are four years in planning?’ he asked.
Cllr Fleming questioned why a new planning application was being submitted for one of the factories. ‘It’s all on paper. There’s nothing on the ground,’ he said.
Director of Services for Economic Development Tony Larkin said: ‘Very good progress is being made and I am very confident of signing a contract in early March. I expect it to come to a happy conclusion by the end of the month.’
He said an enterprise centre planned for John Street is coming along well and he plans to have news of a deal for the old mill property in April. ‘If the enterprise centre works out the way we’re hoping it will – we are hoping that it will be operating by the end of the year.’
Dubbed the John Street Building Regeneration Project, the council has sought Urban Regeneration Development funding to acquire and redevelop the old grain stores at John Street.
CEO Tom Enright said: ‘It is planned to convert these buildings into a high quality enterprise hub. Tenders for design, planning and construction management services are due this month. The Part VIII process is due to commence in the early summer, with construction completed by the end of next year.’
Cllr Fleming asked if the tendering process for the factories was successful and was told by Mr Larkin that it didn’t end with the rewarding of a tender.
‘We have been in negotiations with a contractor and these negotiations are going very well.’
He said the company have their own building design which the council’s planners approve of. ‘We approve of them and once we have heads of agreement he will apply to build his own design for cost reasons. It will be before the summer.’